NYC x Freshman Year for Free is offered by Modern States, a New York-based philanthropy that helps make college more affordable and accessible. The program is made possible by a grants from The Heckscher Foundation for Children.

Our new program aims to help select NYC high school students in the Classes of 2020 – 2028 remain on the path to college.

Students can stay on track toward their college degree by taking advantage of free online courses developed by Modern States and its successful NYC x Freshman Year for Free program.

Modern States launched in 2017 and to date, more than 225,000 people have registered for the rapidly-growing free college program. Modern States is a practical on-ramp into the traditional college system and its courses help prepare students for the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams offered by the College Board. CLEP enables learners of any age and background to earn academic credit at more than 2,900 major colleges and universities within the U.S.

Through Modern States, students can study at their own pace, while enrolled in courses taught by professors from leading universities, including Columbia, Johns Hopkins and George Washington University.

Modern States pays for all CLEP test fees and related expenses, which cost more than $100 per student. More than 30,000 CLEP exams have been paid for by Modern States, saving students about $45 million in total tuition. Each course and exam passed can save students and their families $1,000 to $2,000 on tuition, with no taxpayer dollars spent. Research shows that students who pass a CLEP exam are more likely to graduate from college overall, and more likely to do well on the follow-up course.

Registering for Modern States’ courses is free and easy. Courses can be accessed from any device with internet access, including a cell phone.

*Advanced Placement, AP and CLEP are registered trademarks of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, these offerings.